Marketable Securities - Schedule of Marketable Securities (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Schedule Of Available For Sale Securities [Line Items]
Market value	$ 32,770	$ 88,681
Level 1 \| Valhi Inc \| Common stock
Schedule Of Available For Sale Securities [Line Items]
Market value	32,770	88,681
Cost basis	24,347	24,347
Unrealized gain	$ 8,423	$ 64,334

This item represents the cost of equity securities, which are categorized neither as held-to-maturity nor trading, net of adjustments for other-than-temporary impairments recognized in earnings (less any cumulative-effect adjustments recognized, as defined), and fair value hedge accounting adjustments, if any.

No definition available.

Name:	us-gaap_AvailableForSaleEquitySecuritiesAmortizedCostBasis
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant